Prince, Clayton

Hairspray

John Waters made his bid for PG respectability with this enjoyably trashy comedy about the racial integration of a teen dance show on Baltimore television in the early '60s. Waters, as always, makes a virtue of junk culture and the powerful emotional forces it can represent as kids vie to get on the show. Meanwhile, a parade of former stars (Pia Zadora, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono) and pseudostars (Divine, Ricki Lake) cross the screen, playing freakish characters absorbed by thoughts of fame. (Waters himself turns up as a weirdo psychiatrist.) This transitional film for Waters is rough going at times and not as interesting or funny as his later features Cry-Baby and Serial Mom, but it's worth a look. --Tom Keogh

Comedy in which two \""girls\"" compete for the star position on Baltimore's Corny Collins dance show.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: 7-SEP-2004
Media Type: DVD

Hangin' with the Homeboys

Four Bronx buddies spend an evening cruising for girls and getting into trouble as they tool around the South Bronx. But as episodic and aimless as this film seems, it is built around strong performances by its four leads: Mario Joyner, Nestor Serrano, John Leguizamo and Doug E. Doug. But writer-director Joseph Vasquez gives each guy a distinctive personality and uses their various adventures to examine just how dead-end life seems to this quartet of black and Hispanic buddies--and which ones have a chance of breaking out. Leguizamo is particularly intriguing as a sensitive type who is looking for an actual relationship with a woman, rather than hit-and-run sex, while Joyner is solid as the voice of reason in the group. And Doug E. Doug has a jack-in-the-box comic energy that's undeniable. --Marshall Fine

Comedy about four young friends from New York who spend one crazy Friday night on the streets of Manhattan that quickly turns into a night they'll never forget.Running Time: 90 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 794043692628

John Waters Collection #1: Hairspray/ Pecker (Special Edition)

John Waters made his bid for PG respectability with Hairspray, an enjoyably trashy comedy about the racial integration of a teen dance show on Baltimore television in the early '60s. Waters, as always, makes a virtue of junk culture and the powerful emotional forces it can represent as kids vie to get on the show. Meanwhile, a parade of former stars (Pia Zadora, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono) and pseudostars (Divine, Ricki Lake) cross the screen, playing freakish characters absorbed by thoughts of fame.

Pecker (Edward Furlong) loves to use the camera to capture his fellow Baltimore residents living their daily lives. Of course, since Pecker is a Waters movie, those daily lives include visits to strip bars, shoplifting, and various other quirky, and frequently hilarious, human activities. When Pecker's makeshift photo exhibit comes to the attention of a New York art agent (Lili Taylor), Pecker becomes the latest sensation. Pecker has something to offend just about everyone. But those who take the offenses to heart would be missing out on what amounts to a sweet-natured farce.

Dark Justice

Lost in a world of his own since witnessing the senseless murder of his father, Robert has survived to adulthood as a street person. However, in his flashes of sanity, Roberts outrage at, and disgust for, the nightly news body count finally inspires him to vanquish not only his inner demons, but also the very real ones that are preying, unchecked, upon the innocent. Like his favorite comic book hero, he becomes a modern day "caped crusader" stalking violent criminals and dealing street justice the old fashioned way.